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In Bush Win, House Narrowly Approves CAFTA
Associated Press ^ | July 27, 2005 | JIM ABRAMS

Posted on 07/27/2005 9:14:44 PM PDT by RWR8189

WASHINGTON - The House narrowly approved the Central American Free Trade Agreement early Thursday, a personal triumph for President Bush, who campaigned aggressively for the accord he said would foster prosperity and democracy in the hemisphere.

The 217-215 vote just after midnight adds six Latin American countries to the growing lists of nations with free trade agreements with the United States and averts what could have been a major political embarrassment for the Bush administration.

It was an uphill effort to win a majority, with Bush traveling to Capitol Hill earlier in the day to appeal to wavering Republicans to support a deal he said was critical to U.S. national security.

Lobbying continued right up to the vote, with Vice President Dick Cheney, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman (news, bio, voting record) and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez tracking undecided lawmakers.

The United States signed the accord, known as CAFTA, a year ago with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic, and the Senate approved it last month. It now goes to the president for his signature.

To capture a majority, supporters had to overcome what some have called free trade fatigue, a growing sentiment that free trade deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada have contributed to a loss of well-paying American jobs and the soaring trade deficit.

Democrats, who were overwhelmingly against CAFTA, also argued that its labor rights provisions were weak and would result in exploitation of workers in Central America.

But supporters pointed out that CAFTA would over time eliminate tariffs and other trade barriers that impede U.S. sales to the region, correcting the current situation in which 80 percent of Central American goods enter the United States duty-free but Americans must pay heavy tariffs.

The agreement would also strengthen intellectual property protections and make it easier for Americans to invest in the region.

"This is a test of American leadership in a changing world," said Rep. Kevin Brady (news, bio, voting record), R-Texas, a leading proponent of the agreement. "We cannot claim to be fighting for American jobs and yet turn our backs on 44 million new customers in Central America.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: cafta; gatt; nafta
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To: Diplomacy.308

So many newbies. Later.


61 posted on 07/27/2005 9:50:50 PM PDT by Indy Pendance
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To: RoyalsFan

Welcome to Free Republic. Banned before, or just jumping on the anti-Bush bandwagon this month for the first time?


62 posted on 07/27/2005 9:51:04 PM PDT by ohioWfan ("If My people, which are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray.....")
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To: onyx

The cure? Hmmm...:-)


63 posted on 07/27/2005 9:51:48 PM PDT by F16Fighter
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To: F16Fighter
The New World Order wins another one behind the "leadership" of the President of the United States Federation of North American States.

That's the truth. Did you ever feel so betrayed and sold out? Our own party did it to us!

64 posted on 07/27/2005 9:51:51 PM PDT by NRA2BFree
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To: zbigreddogz

All the 500 of them :)


65 posted on 07/27/2005 9:52:27 PM PDT by jveritas (The left cannot win a national election ever again and never will the Buchananites and 3rd parties)
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To: F16Fighter


Yep, guaranteed.... :)


66 posted on 07/27/2005 9:52:27 PM PDT by onyx (North is a direction. South is a way of life.)
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To: F16Fighter

He knows with whom his moral obligation lies...........which is why he is working to help democracies flourish elsewhere.


67 posted on 07/27/2005 9:52:40 PM PDT by ohioWfan ("If My people, which are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray.....")
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To: Toddsterpatriot
If it was so bad for us, why are we doing so well?

I don't think that we are doing as well in a number of areas. Our produce sales are hurting big time to Canada under Nafta. The trade deficit over 4 billion greater than before NAFTA.

We lost over 16,000 jobs in Food processing.

Net farm income declined over 52 billion dollars, a net decline of 10%.

Real farm payments increased 29% since NAFTA.

NAFTA was supposed to increase Mexican workers wages and jobs. Since NAFTA, Mexico has lost 1.3 million jobs, and workers are still flooding into the US in record numbers. It could be argued that NAFTA contributed heavily to illegal immigration.

NAFTA countries continue to put large tarriffs on US produce.

Looking at trade with one state, Texas, Before NAFTA in product after product, exports were higher.

The before and after picture of NAFTA is bleak. Why is the American Economy doing well? Americans work longer and harder than virtually any country on earth. Despite the stupidity and greed in our government, we manage to do well.

CAFTA is just more of the same. You wont get me to accept that it helps though. It will be a destructive influence on our country. We will survive it because we must.

68 posted on 07/27/2005 9:54:01 PM PDT by Nachum
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To: ohioWfan
"Seriously..........who taught you this stuff?"

Are you asking me why Dubya Bush doesn't believe in either economic sovereignty OR a sovereign American border?

Can it be any more obvious the man is an Internationalist?

69 posted on 07/27/2005 9:55:46 PM PDT by F16Fighter
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To: ohioWfan; patriciaruth

The choice was CAFTA or give Central America to China.

Anybody who doesn't understand that needs to learn about the inroads China is making in the countries below our border.

They understand long-term strategic thinking and chess.



23 posted on 07/27/2005 11:34:15 PM CDT by patriciaruth (They are all Mike Spanns)


70 posted on 07/27/2005 9:57:03 PM PDT by onyx (North is a direction. South is a way of life.)
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To: RoyalsFan
Will the free traitors care IF we do see a jobs report with a net loss of jobs? Nope.

Will you crybabies shut up if we create 10 million jobs over the next 3 years with 3.5% GDP growth? Or will you still whine if despite all the good news our trade deficit increases?

71 posted on 07/27/2005 9:58:00 PM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (If you agree with Marx, the AFL-CIO and E.P.I. please stop calling yourself a conservative!!)
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To: NRA2BFree
"Did you ever feel so betrayed and sold out? Our own party did it to us!"

They think we're stupid....

Yep, they're selling out our sovereignty -- one piece of silver AND one illegal invader at a time.

This President stinks.

72 posted on 07/27/2005 9:58:08 PM PDT by F16Fighter
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To: RWR8189

We should only have free trade with free and developed nations.


73 posted on 07/27/2005 9:58:52 PM PDT by ThermoNuclearWarrior (PRESSURE BUSH TO CLOSE THE BORDERS!!!)
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To: onyx

Does it begin with fingerpainting? ;-)


74 posted on 07/27/2005 9:59:09 PM PDT by F16Fighter
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To: RoyalsFan
This is not free trade. It's an aid package. A costly one. Congratulations republicans, we conservatives weep.

This is all part of the incremental payment plan American's will be paying for in a very big way. It's going as planned.

75 posted on 07/27/2005 9:59:18 PM PDT by Black Tooth
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To: F16Fighter


It "can." LOL-LOL-LOL


76 posted on 07/27/2005 9:59:41 PM PDT by onyx (North is a direction. South is a way of life.)
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To: ohioWfan

Free trade requires nothing except for lack of rules. CAFTA and NAFTA add pages upon pages of rules.


77 posted on 07/27/2005 10:00:06 PM PDT by jeremiah (Patrick Henry said it best, give me liberty or give me death.)
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To: F16Fighter
You didn't answer my question.

Who planted this cynical New World Order in your mind?

Don't turn it around on me now.

Where'd you get these ideas? Who's your leader?

The President has stood for U.S. Sovereignty against the UN, and on a large number of issues (Kyoto, World Court, going to Iraq to protect us), BUT he believes in free trade.

To equate free trade with some dark One World Order conspiracy is irrational.

78 posted on 07/27/2005 10:00:08 PM PDT by ohioWfan ("If My people, which are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray.....")
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To: Nachum
I don't think that we are doing as well in a number of areas. Our produce sales are hurting big time to Canada under Nafta. The trade deficit over 4 billion greater than before NAFTA.

We sell more or less to Canada since NAFTA? We sell more or less to Mexico since NAFTA?

79 posted on 07/27/2005 10:00:18 PM PDT by Toddsterpatriot (If you agree with Marx, the AFL-CIO and E.P.I. please stop calling yourself a conservative!!)
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To: Toddsterpatriot
if we create 10 million jobs...

In central America. FTAA here we come.

80 posted on 07/27/2005 10:00:23 PM PDT by RoyalsFan (Freepmail me if you want on my Kansas City Royals ping list)
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